Offered in: Chicago

This certificate program is intended for licensed teachers or candidates for teacher licensure who wish to receive state approval to teach students with special needs at their approved grade level. The certificate prepares teachers and teacher candidates to instruct diverse learners with a variety of exceptional needs, and leads to the addition of an Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1) endorsement on an Illinois Professional Educator License.

ADMISSION

Graduate candidates for teacher licensure can enroll in this certificate program at any time provided that they have met the Illinois requirements for admission into a teacher licensure program. Please see a professional advisor in the Department of Education for more information.

Licensed teachers can enroll in this certificate program at any time by providing evidence of a teaching license. If desired, the certificate courses can be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree in Teaching and Learning or Second Language Special Education. Please see a professional advisor in the Department of Education for more information.

The state requirements for a special education endorsement (LBS1) on an existing license include four courses and a total of 14 credit hours. The first course (SPED 419) will be waived for licensed teachers if it has already been taken as part of the prior licensure program. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, and no grade below a C is acceptable.